FDA Clears Taylor Farms Lettuce in Cyclospora Investigation

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has retracted a previous positive test result for the Cyclospora parasite in lettuce from Taylor Farms de Mexico. This comes amid an ongoing outbreak of cyclosporiasis, affecting over 1,600 individuals this summer, although the precise source remains unidentified.

In a statement, the FDA revealed that the initial finding of Cyclospora contamination was erroneous, describing it as a false positive. Despite this clarification, the FDA emphasized on social media that the false-positive result does not alter the agency’s continued investigation of the outbreak or the current voluntary recall by Taylor Farms. It has advised against consuming iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms, Mexico, which was distributed to Taco Bell outlets in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia. Walmart stores also received the lettuce in 15 states.

Health officials urge consumers to discard any recalled iceberg lettuce linked to Taylor Fresh Foods. Interviews with affected individuals have revealed many had consumed Taco Bell products containing the suspect lettuce. The FDA continues to conduct thorough testing on lettuce samples, and produce at the southern border is also under scrutiny, but no positives have been detected to date.

Cyclosporiasis symptoms include diarrhea, fatigue, and nausea. To mitigate infection risks, experts advise cooking produce at 158°F and washing it thoroughly. Despite the increase in cases, specialists like Donald Schaffner, a microbiologist at Rutgers University, stress the recurring nature of such outbreaks, typically seen in summer months since the 1990s. Schaffner notes that outbreaks may consist of unrelated clusters, and the geographical spread of cases doesn’t necessarily imply a common source.

Taylor Farms, responding to the FDA’s clarification, has stated that they are no longer sourcing iceberg lettuce from central Mexico for the season. Official records have noted no deaths but reported 94 hospitalizations due to the illness. The quest to pinpoint the outbreak source continues, though explanations vary from water contamination during swimming or drinking, or possibly water used in agricultural practices.